Iran should not put all eggs in one basket: University of Tehran Professor

Iran should not put all its eggs in one basket and it is necessary to
establish "good ties" with all countries, says Davoud Hermidas Bavand, a
politics professor at the University of Tehran.

Davoud Hermidas Bavand, Politics professor at the University of Tehran

For example, Bavand says, Iran "ought to have good relations with Russia" but
it is not in interest of Iran to adopt a "strategic relationship with Russia".

The professor believes that Russia "utilizes Iran for the realization of its
political objectives."

Below is the first part of the Tehran Times' interview with Bavand.

Q: Iran has been hailing its ties with Russia as strategic. How
strategic do you think these relations are?

A: We should have good relationship with all countries. There's
no doubt about that. But I do not take the current relations with Russia as
strategic. We are neighbors with Russia, so we should have good relationship
with Russia. But at the same time we have to bear in mind that Russia uses and
utilizes Iran, primarily as a means for realization of its political objectives.
For instance, with regard to nuclear technology, we adopted a sort of
Ost-Politics Cooperation with Russia, China and India, but we all witnessed in
the International Atomic Energy Agency that Russia and China supported the
resolution of the Council and supported wholeheartedly the resolution of the
Security Council. And even if you do remember, the last two resolutions, the
resolutions of the Security Council were unconfined to the nuclear deal.

It was expanded to the missile situation and even defensive situation. And also
declaration of the activities of Iran in Air Force and some other areas in the
high seas. With regard to North Korea, China opposed any investigation and
observation in the high seas. But contrariwise, neither Russia nor China
supported the concentration.

"Approaching the EU is a good choice for Iran. We are doing that and we ought to
do that."So, I do not believe that we genuinely have strategic relationship.
Russia most often utilizes Iran as a means to its ends. With regard to the
Caspian Sea situation, Russia adopted a totally different approach vis-a-vis
Iran and I do not believe we have to put all of our eggs in one basket. We ought
to have good relations with Russia, but I do not believe it is in interest of
Iran to adopt strategic relationship with Russia.

In regards to Russia, we do have, inevitably, certain relations, because Russia
is a neighboring state, at least through the Caspian Sea. After the Islamic
Revolution our defense necessities turned toward Russia, so in that sense we do
have some relations with Russia. Russia is very selective. We do have certain
amount of economic relations with Russia. Russia might make certain statements
in favor of Iran, but beyond statements, in the area of action, it adopts a very
conservative position.

Q: Iran has been trying to approach the EU. But last year the
German minister of economy while visiting Iran said his country, and maybe
Europe in general, would establish stronger ties with Iran if Iran softens its
stance on Israel. How large do you think Israel looms in Iran's foreign
relations?

A: Approaching the EU is a good choice for Iran. We are doing
that and we ought to do that. We ought to believe that there is matter of
certainty and matter of degree. The EU have extensive relations with the U.S. So
they ought to observe the views of the U.S. I do believe we ought to support the
Palestinian issue in all international forums and international conventions
wherever and whenever it is. We used to support it even before the Islamic
revolution... we have suffered a very strong damage to our foreign policy (for
supporting Palestinians). We have paid and continue to pay. We ought to support
the Palestinian question at every international forum. ...bearing in mind at the
same time (some countries within) the Arab union never appreciate Iran's
approach. As far as Hamas is concerned, at the beginning of the Arab Spring it
shifted toward Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but then when it could not get anywhere,
it shifted back to Iran. So it is trying to move toward the realization of its
own objectives and interests and is not subject to Iran's will and wish.